The Shanghai Job Sounds Exciting!
The Shanghai Job (aka S.M.A.R.T. Chase) features Orlando Bloom, Taiwan actress Hannah Quinlivan (of the upcoming Skyscraper with Dwayne Johnson), and a host of China’s most famous actors and actresses. Bloom’s resume, which includes The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (multiple Oscar winner and a cumulative gross of more than $5 Billion), multiple Oscar nominated Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (from Walt Disney Studios with a cumulative total of more than $4.5Billion), commands the attention of an international viewing audience. In a similar fashion, the professionals involved in these productions are some of the most talented in the industry whether it be Hollywood, China, or other points beyond. Along with Director Charles Martin and the three-time Academy Award-Winner re-remixer Michael Minkler (on Dreamgirls, Chicago and Black Hawk Down ) with rest of the crew, music editor Zoe Zai used her exceptional talent to deliver a world class film that blends western and eastern artists.
Danny Stratton (Bloom) is a washed up private security agent who escorts a valuable Chinese antique vase out of Shanghai. His team is ambushed en route and with the safety of the woman he loves in jeopardy, Danny must work with his Security Management Action Recovery Team members to save her. A conspiracy begins to unravel and the layers of intrigue and suspense in this story reveal a complex plan set in the backdrop of Shanghai. The Shanghai Job is an action film that contains all of the car chases and fight scenes for which the genre is known. The modern template for scoring to a film often takes place in a number of different cities. This makes the process particularly challenging for Zai and her peers. Composer Mark-Kilian (Pitch Perfect) finished and locked the score with the director piecemeal in Europe, sending it to the mixer and Zai in Shanghai to set to the film until he flew there to lock stamp the final score. Many of the quieter scenes spotlight Zoe’s exceptional talent for subtle and emotional moments in this film. The restrained low song of a violin infusing a romantic sentiment is as prominent in the soundscape of the story as are the bombastic/thunderous moments. Zoe relates, “Very few people get the opportunity to see how music editing effects a film. I see the footage and hear the tracks separately and then combine them accurately. Music editing is so much more than having the time stamp and time code coordinated. The music, the dialogue, the action all come together in a blend that intensifies the colors of each. It’s very exciting to be a part of this very literal mixing.”
The Shanghai Job is a world class adventure ride but also a love story. The sentimental sojourn is as impactful a journey as the action taking place. You might recognize the names or you might not, based on your country of origin and knowledge of the film industry; there’s no denying that from the film’s lead actor to the music editor, the talent is exceptional…as confirmed by all who have seen, heard, and felt this riveting action/crime/adventure experience.
